Morris Blames Destruction Of Town Centres On Planning, 2½ Party Rule

Sinn Féin’s Tipperary General Election candidate Cllr. Séamie Morris has blamed poor planning decisions for the destruction of town centres. He says that after 88 years of 2½ party rule which bankrupted the nation that we are still living with the planning consequences of the boom & bust mentality.

Cllr Morris said: “The fact that our town centres and villages all around Tipperary are slowly dying is plain for all to see. But people need to be made aware that what we are seeing is as a direct result of poor planning and some market conditions. But it is also because of the decades long general economic and policy failures of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour.”

“It is planning that permitted so many large corporate traders to set up shop outside of towns with free parking facilities. Town centre traders are unable to compete with the purchasing power of these large operations, prohibitive parking fees, inequitable council rate charges, and the upward-only rents which are systematically squeezing the profit margins of local indigenous businesses.”

“It is local indigenous businesses that must be given the market environment and supports to flourish as it’s local business owners that will keep local profits in local areas and stimulate our community economies. Large corporate entities may create some local employment but their profits leave the county immediately, and very often the country.”

“We in Sinn Féin have a robust and comprehensive policy plan to support local SME employers by making Council rates reflect the turnover of a business. We also wish to end unnecessary licensing delays and the creation state-supported business banking facilities that will allow SMEs to access credit at reasonable interest rates.”

“A flourishing local economy will create strong, vibrant and peaceful communities. It will give our young people the choice to build a life here in Tipperary, and with fair market conditions and real policy changes our local entrepreneurs will be able to pay a fair days wage for a fair days work.”

“Sinn Féin in government in the North of Ireland have created over 40,000 jobs. With Sinn Féin in government in the South the assault on households and our standard of living will finally be put to a halt. Sinn Féin’s budget will see real tax and policy reform which will put more money back into people’s pocket, giving everyone more disposable income that will grow our local economies.”

“It is the profit for the buddies motives, and short-term views of the 2½ party system that have seen such large scale re-zoning that has caused this problem. We now have a choice between the failed and stale right-wing economic policies of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour, or a fair balancing of the scales through market reform that will inject life back into our town centres.”

“We need to realise that the only concrete results of 88 years of our way of governing is bankruptcy and an SME crisis. Every citizen has a choice to make on Friday. More of the same, or change to Sinn Féin. This is an opportune year in which to place Sinn Féin in government across the full 32 counties, and in place to bring equitable opportunities to all.”

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